Arkansas Waterfalls: 10 Falls to Save, Shortest Walk First

The waterfalls in Arkansas worth saving run from a paved stroll at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest to the 210-foot drop at Hemmed-In Hollow on the Buffalo National River. This list puts 10 of them roughly in order of walking distance, shortest first. For each one you get the hike length, how hard it is and whether it needs rain, all taken from the National Park Service (NPS), Arkansas State Parks or the US Forest Service (USFS).

Most Arkansas falls are rain-fed, so the same trip can give you a roaring plunge one week and a damp rock face the next. The easy rule: go within a day or two of a good soaking rain, but never while it's still storming. The low-water crossings and creek beds that make these places beautiful also flood fast.

How we chose these waterfalls

Every pick here has its own page from the agency that manages it, and each one was listed as open when we checked. We used only the distances, difficulty ratings and flow notes those agencies publish. Where an agency doesn't give a number, we say so instead of guessing. We left out falls on private land, and falls we couldn't confirm on an official page.

One trail didn't make the list. Devil's Den Trail at Devil's Den State Park, which passes wet-weather waterfalls, was posted by Arkansas State Parks as closed for repairs. Check the Devil's Den State Park page to see whether it has reopened.

The list: Arkansas waterfalls, shortest walk first

1. Blanchard Springs falls, Blanchard Springs Recreation Area (near Mountain View)

• Walk: a short paved trail. The USFS doesn't give a length.
• Difficulty: easy and paved.
• Needs rain? No. This is a spring, not a creek, so it doesn't depend on the forecast.
• Why go: At Blanchard Springs Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas, the spring bursts out of the hillside as a waterfall. It's the gentlest falls on this list. Day use typically costs $3 per vehicle, per the Forest Service page. From Mountain View, take Highway 14 west for about 12 miles to the Blanchard Springs Caverns sign. Storm damage has closed some trails and roads elsewhere in the Sylamore district, so check the Forest Service alerts before you plan a longer hike nearby.

2. Little Missouri Falls, Ouachita National Forest (west of Glenwood)

• Walk: a trail from the picnic area to a waterfall overlook. The USFS doesn't give a length.
• Difficulty: not rated by the USFS.
• Needs rain? The agency doesn't say. Like most river falls, it runs stronger after rain.
• Why go: The Little Missouri Falls Trailhead in the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas, has a forested picnic area and a trail to a waterfall overlook. It's free and open all year, with no water or electricity. The last stretch is on Forest Service gravel roads (FS 73, 43, 25 and 539) off Highway 369 from Langley, so download the directions before you lose signal.

3. Haw Creek Falls, Ozark National Forest (north of Hagarville)

• Walk: an accessible trail to the falls. The USFS doesn't give a length.
• Difficulty: easy. It's one of the few accessible waterfall trails on this list.
• Needs rain? Not stated, but this is a creek fall, so it's best after rain.
• Why go: Haw Creek Falls in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas, is free, allows camping in designated sites, and the Ozark Highlands Trail passes through. There's no trash service, so pack out what you bring in. It's about 14 miles north of Hagarville on Highway 123. The Forest Service warns that the area is subject to flash flooding, and you cross a low-water bridge to get in. If water is over that bridge, don't drive across. Check the Ozark-St. Francis alerts before you go, because Highway 123 bridge work and trailhead closures can force detours here.

4. Waterfall/Gum Springs Trail, Mount Nebo State Park (near Dardanelle)

• Walk: Arkansas State Parks lists it at 0.25 miles, about 45 minutes.
• Difficulty: strenuous.
• Needs rain? Yes. The park calls it a seasonal waterfall.
• Why go: The trail at Mount Nebo State Park, Arkansas, is very short but takes a while, because it's steep with many switchbacks and huge rock steps. The park says some of those steps weigh 500 pounds. It runs between the Waterfall Overlook and Gum Springs. Mount Nebo is a short drive from Russellville. See the trail page.

5. Kings Bluff, Pedestal Rock Scenic Area (east of Pelsor)

• Walk: the Kings Bluff loop is 1.7 miles, per the USFS.
• Difficulty: easy overall, with some steep sections and plenty of places to rest.
• Needs rain? Not stated, but the fall flows over a bluff ledge, so go after rain.
• Why go: At Pedestal Rock Scenic Area in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas, a waterfall pours off the edge of a big flat bluff top. The Forest Service asks for caution on the bluffs, so keep children close. The site is free, about 6 miles east of Pelsor on Highway 16, and it pairs with the 2.2-mile Pedestal Rocks loop. See the Forest Service page.

6. Cedar Falls, Petit Jean State Park (near Morrilton)

• Walk: the Cedar Falls Trail is 2 miles round trip, about 1.5 to 2 hours. There's also an easy, accessible quarter-mile walk from the Cedar Falls Overlook parking area that looks down on the falls from above.
• Difficulty: rated moderate to strenuous. The climb is on the way back out.
• Needs rain? Less than the others. Arkansas State Parks calls it one of the tallest continuously flowing waterfalls in the state, at 90 feet.
• Why go: Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas, was the state's first state park. The Cedar Falls Trail starts behind the breezeway at Mather Lodge, drops into Cedar Creek Canyon and follows the creek to the base of the falls. Follow the orange blazes. See the trail page.

7. Falls Branch Trail, Lake Catherine State Park (near Hot Springs)

• Walk: 2 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours, per Arkansas State Parks.
• Difficulty: moderate, with several crossings of Little Canyon Creek.
• Needs rain? Yes. The park calls it a seasonal waterfall on Falls Creek.
• Why go: Lake Catherine State Park in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas is a waterfall trip within easy reach of Hot Springs. The trail starts near the campground. If a creek crossing is running high, turn around. See the trail page.

8. Hideout Hollow, Buffalo National River (near Compton)

• Walk: 2 miles round trip, per the NPS trail map.
• Difficulty: the NPS calls it easy and family-friendly, with a few hundred feet of elevation change and creek crossings.
• Needs rain? Mostly. The NPS says multiple small cascades appear in the wet season.
• Why go: Hideout Hollow on the Buffalo National River, Arkansas, ends at a 50-foot waterfall in a box canyon, which you can look down on from the top of 75-foot cliffs. Turn onto the dirt road across from the Compton Post Office and drive 3 miles to the Schermerhorn Trailhead. It only fits 3 to 5 vehicles and has no restroom. Pets aren't allowed. See the NPS page.

9. Eden Falls, Lost Valley Trail, Buffalo National River (near Ponca)

• Walk: about 2.5 miles round trip, typically 2 hours.
• Difficulty: easy to moderate. The NPS says the last stretch up to Eden Falls is rugged and steep.
• Needs rain? The NPS doesn't say, but it runs strongest after rain.
• Why go: The NPS calls the Lost Valley Trail on the Buffalo National River, Arkansas, the park's most popular hike. It passes an 8-foot waterfall at a natural bridge before reaching 53-foot Eden Falls. Above the falls, Eden Falls Cave hides a 25-foot waterfall about 200 feet back in the dark, and that water feeds Eden Falls. The cave has no lights or paths, so the NPS advises at least three light sources and a helmet. The trailhead is off Highway 43 just south of Ponca. It's day use only, has restrooms, and pets aren't allowed. See the NPS page.

10. Hemmed-In Hollow, Buffalo National River (Compton Trailhead)

• Walk: about 5 miles round trip from the Compton Trailhead, typically 4 to 6 hours.
• Difficulty: extremely steep and strenuous. You drop about 1,400 feet going in and climb it all back out.
• Needs rain? Yes. The NPS says it only flows after a considerable amount of rain.
• Why go: Hemmed-In Hollow Falls on the Buffalo National River, Arkansas, drops nearly 210 feet. The NPS calls it the highest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. It's also where the park runs more search-and-rescue calls than anywhere else. The NPS doesn't recommend it for children under 12. It also says to bring at least 2 liters of water, salty snacks, a map and a light if you start in the afternoon. Follow the white HIH blazes, not the yellow Sneeds Creek blazes that leave from the same trailhead. The trailhead has no restroom, and pets aren't allowed in the Ponca Wilderness. See the NPS page.

Are Arkansas waterfall trails dangerous?

Some are, and the agencies say so plainly. The Buffalo National River's search-and-rescue page says one in four of the park's rescues happens in the Ponca Wilderness, where Hemmed-In Hollow is. It also says more than 70% of rescues involve uninjured people who simply weren't prepared. Most Lost Valley accidents are slips, trips and falls on wet rock.

The NPS warns that cell service is unreliable in the park and tells hikers to carry a topographic map. Save the park's 24-hour dispatch number, 1-888-692-1162, before you leave town. Storms upstream can raise creeks fast, so treat any low-water crossing as off-limits when water is moving over it.

What should you pack for an Arkansas waterfall hike?

Pack for slick rock, no signal and a long climb out, and check conditions the morning you go.

• Check the agency's alerts page the morning you go.
• Go one or two days after a good rain, not during a storm.
• Pack 2 liters of water per person for the big hikes, plus salty snacks.
• Wear shoes with real grip. Wet sandstone is slick.
• Carry a headlamp, even on a day hike.
• Carry a paper map or downloaded offline maps. Don't count on cell service near the Buffalo.
• Leave dogs home for Lost Valley, Hideout Hollow and Hemmed-In Hollow.
• Pack out your trash. Several of these sites have no trash service.
• If water is over a low-water bridge, turn around.

A one-weekend Buffalo River waterfall route

Base yourself near Ponca or Jasper. Day one: hike Lost Valley to Eden Falls in the morning, then drive to Compton for the short Hideout Hollow hike in the afternoon. Day two, if it rained midweek and your legs are fresh: start early from the Compton Trailhead for Hemmed-In Hollow. For more trail ideas, see our outdoors guides and road trips.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the tallest waterfall in Arkansas?

Hemmed-In Hollow Falls on the Buffalo National River drops nearly 210 feet, and the National Park Service calls it the highest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. It only flows well after considerable rain, and the round-trip hike from the Compton Trailhead is about 5 miles and very steep.

When is the best time to see waterfalls in Arkansas?

The best time to see waterfalls in Arkansas is a day or two after a soaking rain. Most Arkansas falls are rain-fed and can shrink to a trickle in dry spells, though Blanchard Springs and Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park flow more reliably.

What is the easiest waterfall hike in Arkansas?

The easiest waterfall walk on this list is the paved trail to the spring-fed falls at Blanchard Springs Recreation Area near Mountain View. Haw Creek Falls in the Ozark National Forest also has an accessible trail, and Petit Jean State Park has a quarter-mile accessible walk to the Cedar Falls Overlook.

Can I bring my dog to Arkansas waterfalls?

Not on the Buffalo National River's waterfall trails: the National Park Service doesn't allow pets on the Lost Valley Trail, the Hideout Hollow Trail or in the Ponca Wilderness, where Hemmed-In Hollow is. Service animals are permitted. Check each state park's or national forest's rules before you bring a dog anywhere else.

How long is the hike to Eden Falls in Lost Valley?

The Lost Valley Trail to Eden Falls on the Buffalo National River is about 2.5 miles round trip and typically takes around 2 hours. The National Park Service rates it easy to moderate, but the final climb to Eden Falls is rugged and steep.

How long is the Cedar Falls Trail at Petit Jean State Park?

The Cedar Falls Trail at Petit Jean State Park is 2 miles round trip and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, according to Arkansas State Parks. It starts behind Mather Lodge, descends into Cedar Creek Canyon to the 90-foot falls, and climbs back out the same way.